Typewriter ribbon especially adapted for manifolding



W. H. SINCLAIR. TYPEWRITER RIBBON ESPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MANIFOLDING.

APPLICATION FILED OCT-26, I92I.

Patented Oct. 31, 1922.

il atented Get. 311, 122.

WILLI H. SINCLAIR, OF BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR T0 MANIFOLD IMPRESSIONS CORPORATION, OF CARSON CITY, NEVADA, A CORPORATION OF NEVADA.

TYPEWRITER RIBBON ESPECIALLY ADAJP'I'ED FOR MANIFOLDING.

Application filed October 26, 1921. Serial No. 510,410.

I '0 all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, WILLIAM H. SINCLAIR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Berkeley, in the county of Alameda and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Typewriter Ribbons Especially Adapted for Manifolding, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to impression ribbons for typing machines, and particularly to ribbons adapted for manifolding in connection with attachments for typewriters for producing copies of the original impressions.

In the class of manifolding attachments which seek to dispense with the use of carbon paper, the manifolding medium is in the general form of a ribbon which is so mounted upon or is associated with the platen-carriage of the machine as to be movable to and from its functional position betv. een the sheets of paper in the line of type impact.

One essential for the successful employment of such ribbons is that they be held under sutiicient tension between their end mounts to provide for a clean, sha' impression. Another consideration which has to be taken into account, is that the ribbon should be as thin as possible, particularly where a number are used in one attachment; and, moreover, especially, in those forms of these devices which contemplate the use of relatively short, single length ribbons stretching their full length in front of the platen, and intended to be discarded for replacement when their useful life is ended, it is a matter of importance that such ribbons be made of relatively inexpensive material. A fabric or textile ribbon while adapted for resisting and sustaining the necessary tension strains has the disadvantage of being relatively thick, unless made of exceedingly fine thread and closely woven, in which case it is unduly expensive; and it has also, by reason of its textile structure, the disadvantage as compared with a nonfibrous material suchas paper, for example, of a tendency to produce a blurred impression, such tendency being heightened by its absorbent nature which precludes a close approach to an absolute smooth surface of the impression or transfer composition.

On the other hand a non-fibrous material,

- such, for example, as the paper from which the usual carbon manifolding sheets are made, while furnishing what may be regarded as an ideal substance for manifolding purposes, and while thin and cheap enough. is yet not adapted to resist the tension stress to which, in these devices, it would be exposed, so that it would be liable to tear apart before its useful term had expired.

To harmonize these considerations and to provide a manifolding ribbon at small cost, capable of sustaining the required tension, and best adapted for transfer, both with respect to clearness of outline and number of possible impressions, are the objects of my invention.

To this end my invention consists in the novel typewriter ribbon which I shall now fully describe by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is an end view of a portion of the platen-carriage of a typewriter, showing one form of a manifolding attachment with which my ribbon may be associated.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view, showing the mounting of my ribbon in the typewriter attachment.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view, broken, of one end of the ribbon.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of one end of my ribbon, showing the clip connect1on.-

Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing the reinforcing, carrying member on both faces of the impression member.

Fig. 6 is a perspective 'view showing the reinforcing, carrying member as two separate strips.

Fig. 7 is a view showing the reinforcing, carrying member on the non-functional face of the impression member.

My improved ribbon is a composite one comprising an impression member, and a reinforcing, carrying member. The impression member, designated by the numeral 1, is a strip of paper carrying on one or both sides an impression or transfer composition, here shown, for illustration, as one side only and designated by 1'. The impression member is relatively thin and frail, and, for the sake of a better understanding, it may be regarded as a strip of commercial carbonpaper. i

The reinforcing, carrying member, designated by 2, is of relatively stronger material, such, for example, as fabric or paper, the latter being preferred for the sake of economy. This member extends the full length, or more if desired, of the impression member, and lies in two spaced strips along the upper and lower portions of the length of said impression member, the latter being exposed between said strips. The two members are permanently secured together as, for example, by adhesion. In some cases, the reinforcing, carrying member may be only on the impression face of the impression member as in Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 6. In others, it may be only on the non-impression face of said impression member, as in Fig. 7. In still others it may be duplicated and upon both faces, as in Fig. 5. Again, in some cases, the reinforcing, carrying member may be a single piece with its longitudinal central portion cut out to form the spaced upper and lower strips, exposing the impression member, as in Figs. 3, 5 and 7. In others the upper and lower strips of the reinforcing, carrying member may be separate pieces, as in Fig. 6.

The composite ribbon thus described is fitted at each end with a suitable clip by means of which it may be readily connected with Whatever form of mounting it is to be associated with. For illustration, I have shown, in Fig. 4, a common form of clip at 3, which is here exaggerated to show that it is crimped down on the ends of the ribbon and is provided with a hook 3, by which it is engaged with notches 4 in the ends of the ribbon supporting arms 4, which extend from a rod 5 (Fig. 2) serving as an axis of movement whereby the ribbon is thrown into and out of use. In Fig. 1, I show the rod 5 as carried in brackets 6, secured upon the platen carriage 7 of a typewriter, in which 8 is the platen and 9 the paper guide-apron. The full lines show the ribbon moved down into operative position, while the dotted lines indicate the position out of use. It will, of course, be understood that in these drawings of the ribbon, the members are necessarily shown exaggerated, with respect to thickness.

It will now be seen that the functional member l'of the ribbon, though of thin, frail and cheap material, may be practically used and held under tension between the end arms 4, without danger of tearing, since the tension stress is borne by the reinforcing, carrying member 2 of the composite ribbon.

I claim 1. typewriter ribbon com rising an impression member and a rein orcing, carrying member composed of longitudinally directed spaced strips between which the impression member is exposed.

2. A typewriter ribbon com rising an impression member and a rein orcing, carrying member composed of longitudinally directed spaced strips between which said impression member is exposed; and clips secured to the ends of said ribbon.

3. As a new article of manufacture, a typewriter ribbon comprising an impression member of paper, and a reinforcing, carrying member composed of longitudinally directed spaced strips between which the impression member is exposed.

4. As a new article of manufacture, a typewriter ribbon comprising an impression member of paper, and a reinforcing, carrying member composed of longitudinally directed spaced strips between which said -impression member is exposed; and clips secured to the ends of said ribbon.

5. As a new article of manufacture, a typewriter ribbon comprising a relatively thin and frail impression member of paper; and a relatively stronger reinforcing, carrying member of paper composed of longitudinally directed spaced strips between which the impression member is exposed.

6. As a new article of manufacture, a typewriter ribbon comprising a relatively thin and frail impression member of paper; and a relatively stronger reinforcing, carrying member of paper composed of longitudinally directed spaced strips between which the impression member is exposed; and clips secured to the ends of said ribbon.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

WILLIAM H. SINCLAIR. 

